When fire strikes your Cincinnati home, the devastation feels overwhelming. Flames destroy everything in their path, smoke permeates every corner, and water from firefighting efforts creates additional damage. In these darkest moments, you need a restoration partner who responds immediately, works efficiently, and treats you with genuine compassion. Apke Total Restoration provides comprehensive fire damage restoration services throughout Cincinnati, helping families rebuild and recover after disaster.
Immediate Emergency Services: The First Critical Hours
The hours immediately following a fire are crucial. Every passing minute increases damage, raises restoration costs, and potentially compromises your ability to salvage belongings. Apke Total Restoration’s 24/7 emergency response ensures you’re never alone during this crisis.
Board-Up and Security Services
Once the fire department declares your property safe, we immediately secure your home. Fire compromises windows, doors, and roofs, leaving your property vulnerable to weather damage, theft, and vandalism. Our emergency board-up services include:
Window and Door Securing: We board all broken windows and damaged doors with quality plywood, securing them properly to resist weather and forced entry.
Temporary Roof Tarping: Burned or damaged roofs receive heavy-duty tarp coverage to prevent rain and snow from causing additional damage.
Fence and Entry Point Securing: All potential entry points are secured, protecting your property and remaining belongings.
24-Hour Security: For extensive damage, we can arrange security services to monitor your property during the restoration process.
These protective measures prevent additional damage and give you peace of mind knowing your property is secure.
Initial Damage Assessment and Documentation
Our certified fire restoration technicians conduct a thorough assessment of all fire, smoke, soot, and water damage. This comprehensive inspection includes:
Visual Inspection: We examine every area of your home, documenting damage to structural components, finishes, and contents.
Thermal Imaging: Infrared cameras reveal hidden damage behind walls and in ceilings where fire and smoke may have traveled.
Moisture Detection: We identify all areas affected by firefighting water using moisture meters and thermal imaging.
Air Quality Testing: We assess smoke contamination levels throughout your home.
Photo and Video Documentation: Extensive documentation supports your insurance claim and guides our restoration strategy.
This detailed assessment allows us to develop a comprehensive restoration plan and accurate cost estimate for your insurance company.
Comprehensive Fire Damage Restoration Services
Apke Total Restoration provides complete fire restoration services, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple contractors:
Emergency Water Removal and Structural Drying
Firefighting efforts often introduce more water than the fire itself destroyed. Standing water and saturated materials create immediate concerns:
Rapid Water Extraction: Using powerful truck-mounted and portable extraction equipment, we remove standing water from all affected areas.
Structural Drying: Commercial dehumidifiers and air movers dry your home’s structure thoroughly. Cincinnati’s humidity makes professional drying equipment essential—inadequate drying leads to mold growth within days.
Moisture Monitoring: We monitor moisture levels daily, ensuring complete drying before reconstruction begins.
Anti-Microbial Treatment: We apply EPA-registered antimicrobial products to prevent mold growth on damp surfaces.
Quick water removal prevents secondary damage that could double your restoration costs and timeline.
Soot and Smoke Damage Removal
Smoke and soot are insidious—they penetrate everywhere, creating stubborn stains, corrosive damage, and persistent odors. Our smoke damage restoration includes:
Dry Soot Removal: We vacuum loose soot using HEPA-filtered equipment, preventing it from spreading or embedding deeper into materials.
Surface Cleaning: Different materials require different cleaning approaches:
- Walls and ceilings: Specialized cleaners remove smoke residue without damaging paint or wallpaper
- Wood surfaces: Careful cleaning preserves finishes while removing contamination
- Metal items: We prevent corrosion by removing acidic soot residue
- Glass and mirrors: Smoke film is removed, restoring clarity
Fabrics and upholstery: Professional cleaning or ozone treatment removes smoke contamination
HVAC System Cleaning: Smoke travels through your heating and cooling system, contaminating ductwork and components. We clean or replace:
- Ductwork throughout your home
- Registers and grilles
- Furnace and air conditioning components
- Filters and air purifiers
Cleaning your HVAC system is essential—running contaminated systems redistributes smoke particles throughout your home.
Content Cleaning: We transport salvageable contents to our specialized facility for cleaning using:
- Ultrasonic cleaning for detailed items
- Dry cleaning for smoke residue
- Wet cleaning for water-safe items
- Specialized electronics cleaning
- Document and photo restoration
Professional Odor Elimination
Smoke odor is perhaps the most persistent fire damage effect. Simple air fresheners mask odors temporarily but don’t eliminate them. Apke Total Restoration uses advanced techniques to permanently remove smoke odors:
Thermal Fogging: We use specialized equipment that creates a petroleum-based fog that penetrates materials similarly to smoke. This fog neutralizes odor molecules at their source.
Ozone Treatment: Ozone generators produce O3 molecules that oxidize and eliminate odor-causing molecules. This treatment requires temporary evacuation but provides powerful results.
Hydroxyl Generator Treatment: These generators produce hydroxyl radicals that safely neutralize odors while your home remains occupied.
Odor Sealing: We apply specialized primers and sealants to surfaces, encapsulating any remaining odor molecules and preventing their release.
HVAC Deodorization: We treat your ductwork and HVAC system specifically to eliminate odors circulating through your heating and cooling.
Combining multiple techniques ensures complete odor elimination. We don’t consider the job complete until you confirm all smoke smells are gone.
Complete Structural Restoration and Reconstruction
After cleaning and deodorization, we rebuild your home:
Demolition: We remove unsalvageable materials including:
- Burned framing and structural components
- Fire-damaged drywall and insulation
- Charred flooring and subflooring
- Compromised electrical and plumbing systems
- Any materials too damaged to restore
Structural Repairs: Our licensed contractors repair or replace:
- Load-bearing walls and supports
- Roof trusses and decking
- Floor joists and subflooring
- Foundation elements if damaged
Systems Installation: We coordinate:
- Licensed electricians for electrical system repair
- Licensed plumbers for plumbing restoration
- HVAC contractors for heating and cooling system repair or replacement
Finishing Work: We complete your home with:
New drywall installation and finishing
- Flooring installation (hardwood, carpet, tile, laminate)
- Interior painting with premium products
- Trim, molding, and door installation
- Cabinet and countertop installation
- Fixture and hardware installation
Our goal is returning your home to pre-fire condition—or improving it beyond its previous state.
Specialized Fire Restoration Techniques for Cincinnati Homes
Cincinnati’s historic housing stock requires specialized knowledge and techniques:
Historic Home Restoration
Many Cincinnati neighborhoods feature homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These properties have unique characteristics:
Plaster Walls: Traditional plaster over wood lath requires different cleaning and restoration techniques than modern drywall. Our craftsmen understand historical plaster repair, matching original textures and finishes.
Original Hardwood Floors: Old-growth hardwood floors are irreplaceable. We employ specialized cleaning and refinishing techniques to restore fire-damaged historic flooring whenever possible.
Original Hardwood Floors: Old-growth hardwood floors are irreplaceable. We employ specialized cleaning and refinishing techniques to restore fire-damaged historic flooring whenever possible.
Decorative Woodwork: Ornate trim, molding, and built-in cabinetry receive careful cleaning and restoration. When replacement is necessary, we source or custom-mill matching materials.
Historic Windows: Original windows with wavy glass panes and unique designs are carefully restored rather than replaced when possible
Brick and Masonry: Cincinnati’s characteristic brick homes require expert cleaning. We use appropriate pressure and chemicals to remove soot without damaging mortar or causing
efflorescence.
Modern Home Fire Restoration
Contemporary Cincinnati homes present different challenges:
Open Floor Plans: Smoke travels freely through open-concept designs, requiring extensive cleaning of large spaces.
Modern Materials: Engineered wood, synthetic materials, and modern finishes require specialized cleaning approaches.
Integrated Technology: Smart home systems, structured wiring, and modern appliances need professional assessment and restoration.
Energy-Efficient Construction: Tight building envelopes and modern insulation materials require careful attention during fire restoration to maintain energy efficiency.
Content Restoration and Recovery
Your belongings hold monetary value and irreplaceable memories. Our content restoration services maximize recovery:
Pack-Out and Inventory Services
For significant fire damage, we provide comprehensive pack-out services:
Detailed Inventory: Every item is photographed, described, and tracked using specialized software. This inventory supports insurance claims and ensures nothing is lost.
Careful Packing: Trained technicians pack items using appropriate materials and techniques, preventing damage during transport.
Climate-Controlled Storage: Your belongings are stored in our secure, climate-controlled facility during restoration.
Organized Return: When restoration is complete, we return and place items according to your preferences.
Specialized Content Cleaning
Our facility offers specialized cleaning for diverse items:
Electronics Restoration: Fire-damaged electronics may be salvageable with immediate professional attention. We work with specialized electronics restoration partners who:
- Disassemble devices
- Clean circuit boards and components
- Remove corrosion
- Test functionality
Document and Photo Recovery: Paper items damaged by smoke and water receive specialized treatment:
- Freeze drying for water-damaged documents
- Gamma irradiation for documents exposed to contaminated water
- Specialized cleaning for smoke-damaged papers
- Digital scanning and reproduction of irreplaceable documents
- Photo restoration and reprinting
Textile Cleaning: Clothing, linens, curtains, and other fabrics receive:
- Professional dry cleaning
- Ozone treatment for odor removal
- Specialized stain removal
- Deodorization
- Pressing and folding
Furniture Restoration: Smoke-damaged furniture is restored using:
- Wood cleaning and refinishing
- Upholstery cleaning or reupholstering
- Odor removal treatments
- Structural repairs
Art and Collectibles: Valuable or sentimental items receive specialized attention from experts in art restoration, preserving your cherished pieces.
Navigating Insurance Claims with Confidence
Fire damage claims involve complex processes. Apke Total Restoration’s insurance expertise makes this easier:
Working Directly with Your Insurance Company
Direct Billing: We bill most insurance companies directly for covered services, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
Comprehensive Documentation: We provide adjusters with detailed documentation including:
- Extensive photos and videos
- Detailed damage descriptions
- Room-by-room inventories
- Professional estimates using industry-standard software (Xactimate)
- Progress photos throughout restoration
Adjuster Communication: We communicate directly with adjusters, explaining technical aspects of fire restoration and answering questions about our approach and pricing.
Supplement Management: When additional damage is discovered during restoration, we document and submit supplements to ensure complete coverage.
Maximizing Your Insurance Recovery
Understanding Your Policy: We help you understand coverage limits, deductibles, and policy provisions, though we recommend consulting your agent or attorney for legal advice.
Documenting Additional Living Expenses: We help track expenses for temporary housing, meals, and other costs covered under Additional Living Expenses (ALE) or Loss of Use provisions.
Contents Coverage: We work to maximize contents recovery, properly documenting all items and cleaning costs.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value: We explain the difference and help you recover the full replacement cost when your policy provides this coverage.
Depreciation Recovery: For Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policies, we help you understand the depreciation holdback and recovery process.
Timeline and Expectations for Fire Restoration
Understanding realistic timeframes helps you plan:
Minor Fire Damage (1-2 rooms affected)
- Timeline: 4-8 weeks
- Includes: Cleaning, odor removal, and cosmetic repairs
- Living Arrangements: May be able to remain in unaffected areas
Moderate Fire Damage (Multiple rooms or floors)
- Timeline: 2-4 months
- Includes: Extensive cleaning, structural repairs, and reconstruction
- Living Arrangements: Temporary housing typically necessary
- Major Fire Damage (Most of home affected)
Major Fire Damage (Most of home affected)
- Timeline: 4-6 months or longer
- Includes: Complete restoration with extensive reconstruction
- Living Arrangements: Extended temporary housing required
These timelines vary based on damage extent, permit requirements, material availability, and weather. We provide realistic estimates and regular updates throughout your restoration.
Why Cincinnati Families Trust Apke Total Restoration
Choosing your fire restoration partner is a critical decision:
Immediate 24/7 Response: We answer your emergency call immediately, any time day or night, and typically arrive within an hour.
Certified Fire Restoration Specialists: Our technicians hold certifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the industry’s gold standard.
Advanced Equipment and Techniques: We invest in the latest fire restoration technology and continue education to provide the most effective restoration services.
Complete Service Offering: From emergency response through final walkthrough, we handle every aspect of fire restoration, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple contractors.
Licensed and Insured: We maintain all required licenses and comprehensive insurance, protecting you throughout the restoration process.
Local Expertise: As Cincinnati residents and business owners, we understand our community’s unique housing characteristics and local building codes.
Insurance Expertise: Our experience with insurance claims helps ensure fair treatment and maximum coverage recovery.
Compassionate Approach: We understand you’re experiencing one of life’s most difficult challenges and treat every client with genuine compassion and respect.
Quality Commitment: We don’t consider any job complete until you’re completely satisfied with the results.
Additional Services That Support Your Recovery
Beyond fire restoration, Apke Total Restoration provides complementary services:
Mold Remediation: If water damage from firefighting led to mold growth, we provide comprehensive remediation following IICRC S520 standards.
Reconstruction Services: Our licensed contractors handle all reconstruction needs, from minor repairs to complete rebuilds.
Emergency Services: We respond to all property disasters including water damage, storm damage, and more.
Preventive Services: After restoration, we can help implement fire prevention measures to protect your home in the future.
Taking the First Step Toward Recovery
Fire damage feels overwhelming, but recovery is possible. Thousands of Cincinnati families have successfully rebuilt their lives after fire disasters, and with professional restoration services, your home can be fully restored.
The journey begins with a single phone call. When you contact Apke Total Restoration, you’re not just hiring a restoration company—you’re gaining a partner who will guide you through every step of recovery, from the darkest moments after the fire through the day you return to your restored home.
Contact Us Now for Immediate Fire Damage Restoration
If you’ve experienced fire damage, every minute matters. Don’t face this disaster alone. Apke Total Restoration’s emergency response team is standing by 24/7, ready to secure your property, begin restoration, and start your journey toward recovery.
We’re your Cincinnati neighbors, and we’re here to help you through this crisis. Our comprehensive fire damage restoration services, experienced team, and genuine compassion make us the trusted choice for Cincinnati families facing fire disasters.
Call Apke Total Restoration now. Your recovery starts today, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. Together, we’ll restore not just your home, but your peace of mind and hope for the future.
About Apke Total Restoration
Apke Total Restoration is Cincinnati’s trusted leader in fire and water damage restoration services. Our certified technicians, advanced equipment, and compassionate approach have
helped countless local families recover from disasters. Available 24/7 for emergency response, we provide comprehensive restoration services from initial damage through complete reconstruction. When disaster strikes, Cincinnati families trust Apke Total Restoration to restore their homes and their lives.